Occupant monitoring apparatus

Abstract

An occupant monitoring apparatus includes: an imaging unit capturing an image of an occupant; an image processor performing predetermined processing on the image of the occupant captured by the imaging unit; and a sensitivity controller changing imaging sensitivity of the imaging unit. The occupant monitoring apparatus monitors the occupant according to the image of the occupant processed by the image processor. The imaging unit is disposed so as to face the occupant with a steering wheel located therebetween. In a case where the steering wheel is turned, the sensitivity controller maintains the current imaging sensitivity without changing the imaging sensitivity.

1 . An occupant monitoring apparatus comprising:
 an imaging unit disposed to face an occupant with a steering wheel located therebetween and configured to capture an image of the occupant;   an image processor configured to perform predetermined processing on the image of the occupant captured by the imaging unit; and   a sensitivity controller configured to change imaging sensitivity of the imaging unit,   the occupant monitoring apparatus monitoring the occupant according to an image of the occupant processed by the image processor,   wherein the sensitivity controller maintains current imaging sensitivity without changing the imaging sensitivity in a case where the steering wheel is turned.   
     
     
         2 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity controller maintains the current imaging sensitivity without changing the imaging sensitivity in a case where the steering wheel is turned and it is detected that the imaging unit is shielded. 
     
     
         3 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein after it is detected that the imaging unit is no longer shielded, the sensitivity controller changes the imaging sensitivity according to luminance of an image of the occupant. 
     
     
         4 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensitivity controller detects luminance of a specific region in which a specific part of the occupant is located in an image of the occupant, and detects that the imaging unit is shielded according to the luminance of the specific region. 
     
     
         5 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the specific part is a face of the occupant, and the specific region is a face region in which the face is located. 
     
     
         6 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity controller maintains the current imaging sensitivity without changing the imaging sensitivity in a case where the steering wheel is turned and a steering angle of the steering wheel is not less than a predetermined angle. 
     
     
         7 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein after the steering angle of the steering wheel becomes less than the predetermined angle, the sensitivity controller changes the imaging sensitivity according to luminance of an image of the occupant. 
     
     
         8 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined angle is a rotation angle from a reference position of the steering wheel in a case where a spoke of the steering wheel shields one of part and entirety of the imaging unit. 
     
     
         9 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity controller detects that the steering wheel is turned according to an image obtained from the image processor. 
     
     
         10 . The occupant monitoring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity controller detects that the steering wheel is turned according to output of a steering angle sensor configured to detect a steering angle of the steering wheel.